Well, we are more than halfway through our 7-week study of Revelation, and there is a consistent message that John is sharing. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are central in a faithful life, worship is important, living out your faith is key, and if you are truly living your life as a Christian, suffering and pain will happen. John reminds the people of his day that being faithful involves putting out all there failures before God and for God to let the people know what life would look like if God is not central in their lives. And for most of the images and ideas, we have been able to make sense of them, put them into perspective, and a little more understanding. Yes, I know it has been weird, confusing, and a little disturbing, but still the book of Revelation has been less scary, weird, and even has offered us some insight for today-the reminder that our faith in God should be first and foremost and that everything else comes from putting our trust in God. And then we come to the lesson for today. Well, I almost thought we should just sing songs and pray together instead of me preaching on this chapter. It would have been a lot easier, and maybe even more fun! So as we go into the stories of the dragon, the first monster, and the second monster, I invite you to pray for God?s wisdom with me. Let us pray!

As we walk through the passage today, I am going to name the meaning behind the images in this passage. Then talk through the bigger overarching meaning behind this message. Here are two pieces to know about this section of the scripture. First, it is really like a parody, where there is reality and there is a fake version. The real version is God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The face version is God, the Dragon, Sea Beast, and Land Beast. John is using images from the prophets in the Old Testament and from Old Testament writings that were not including in the Bible, to make his point about who to believe and follow. Second, throughout Revelation there is a play off of Greek and Roman Mythology. The Greek Myth connected with our story today begins on the island Delos, which was not far from the Island of Patmos, where John was writing from. Delos is sacred to the Greeks because it is the birthplace of Apollo?s. Apollo?s mother Leto, had fled there to escape the dragon Python, who wanted to kill the newborn son of Zeus. Instead of being killed, Apollo returns to Delphi and kills the dragon. Just like in every time period and tradition, there are tales that share good vs. evil, darkness vs. light, life vs. death, rebellion, overthrowing divine order, and more. The Romans would have used the Greek mythology in ways that was politically useful. For example, Nero compared himself to Apollo and erected statues to himself as the god Apollo. The dragon would have represented the power of darkness that would oppose the goodness of life. As I thought about parody and Greek Mythology, there are many ways that we still do this today. Many of us grew up on Grimm?s Fairy Tales, Fables from Brer Rabbit, and others. These stories all taught us a lesson about good, bad, light, dark, death, life, and more. I know for me, when I watch a Disney movie, I see the parallel?s in the stories on Grimm?s Fairy Tales and other childhood stories I grew up on. What we are reading today, and other days through this study, include stories that the people were familiar with and they would automatically know the meaning behind the story, just like we almost automatically know the meaning behind stories we hear today because of what we heard when we were younger. Does that make sense?

Again, as I studied these words in Scripture, I was amazed on the implication for us today, if we are willing and able to hear it. Let?s listen to the words in verses 1-7.

(12:18) Then the dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore. (13:1) And I saw a beast rising out of the sea having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear?s, and its mouth was like a lion?s mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have received a death-blow, but its mortal wound had been healed. In amazement the whole earth followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ?Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?? The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered. Let anyone who has an ear listen: If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Dragon-on sand of the seashore, the dragon represents the anti-God images

Beast of the sea-Leviathan, mythical creatures, 10 horns, 7 heads are the 7 hills of Rome, 7 Kings/Emperors in the Roman Empire, 10 diadems, blasphemous names because the Kings/Emperors claimed names like ?God, Lord, and Savior?, and the Beast of the Sea represents ?anti-Jesus? images

Dragon, anti-God, gave the beast of the sea, anti- Jesus, his power, throne and authority

Beast of the sea- Is also assumed to be Nero. He died in battle, but many believed that he did not die and would come back to life to bring back an amazing reign for Rome and great persecution of the Christians.

Whole earth followed the beast-there is a surprise that people actually followed the beast, the beasts spoke against God, those who had already gone to heaven, this god was against those who believed in God,

Warning- don?t follow the rulers of this world. They will lead you astray

OVERARCHING IDEA: John is encouraging the people to hold firm in patience and in faith. Holding firm during a time where there is much evil and hatred in the world against Christians is difficult. For at the time this book was written, the people needed to be reminded that their faithfulness would almost certainly mean death. With knowing that, John is reminding them to be faithful to God, not to get caught up in the worship of the gods that are around them. John is pushing with the people the importance of faithful witness until death. The ultimate call as Christians in John?s eyes would be to die for faith in Jesus Christ.

?Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all; and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.?

Another beast, the beast of the earth- Behemoth- two horns like a lamb, spoke like a dragon, follows the orders of the first beast, encourages everyone to worship the first beast, this is a false prophet, the Satanic counterpart to and parody of the Holy Spirit that is at work in the churches.

Great signs are performed, yet are done to deceive the people on earth.

Image of the beast- This beast also represents the Roman governors, the Roman priesthood, or false Christian prophets and teachers.

Mark of the beast-right hand or forehead; connected to trading and living according to the rule of the Roman Empire; in order for people to be allowed to participate in commerce, going to the market to buy food, or to sell items for their livelihood, people had to have a certain mark on their hand or forehead. It would have been a struggle economically in the Christian communities, because even the coin had the image of the emperor.

666-number of a man, of a person. Nero Caesar is the most likely candidate, for he had persecuted the church. Nero was the first Roman emperor to do so, and since John sees new persecution on the horizon, he pictures the new Roman oppressors as the ?return of Nero.? With persecution, John would be telling believers that it will be like the persecution we received under Nero?in the same way that people could say ?it is Hitler all over again.?

With the number 666, it was a formulae at the time- 666 would have been created out of the Hebrew spelling of the name NERO CAESER. In Hebrew the number written represents a letter.

The number 6 represents a number of lack and incompleteness, number of judgment; the judgments in the seals, trumpets, and bowls, were all the 6th ones. Also, John and his contemporaries live in the time of the 6th emperor- The number 6 would be a symbolic expression of incompleteness, idolatry, judgment, non-fulfillment, evil itself raised to the third power.

OVERARCHING IDEA: All of this leads me to think about where we put our trust. In addition, what propaganda do we put our trust in? Or the ways we idolize political power? I mean, it is election season, and political propaganda is everywhere. It is awful. ?So it is the reminder that during an election season, to remember the teachings of Jesus and the life Jesus calls us to live; remember that our faith should be central as we reflect on what is being said by the politicians. It is also a call to reflect and be alert on discerning truly where our commitments are. What are our reasons for making commitments to the various things in our lives? By making certain commitments, what are the realities that we truly are choosing? Because if we think about where we put our loyalties, our energy, our efforts, would we also have a mark on us? And I am going to go out on a limb. I think we all would have a mark on our right hand or forehead. Because we all face realities every single day where we face choices that may well not be so clear-cut as we would like. Just like the early Christians did.

Here is our challenge?our challenge is to not be culturally religious. It is a challenge to truly be Christian, where we live out the greatest command to love God, neighbor, and yourself. This passage is a reminder that all who support and promote the cultural religion, in or out of the church, however Lamb-like they may appear, are agents of the beast. Ouch. All propaganda that entices humanity to idolize a human empire instead of God?s Heaven and Earth, God?s empire, has become an expression of this beastly power, the power of the world. Although there is an appearance of being ?Lamb-like,? truth is seen in how we live our lives. So if we just come to church if we just pretend to be Christian, if we just use the Christian-y type words and phrases, we are agents of the beast. Ouch. These words lead us to think about where our loyalty lies. Where do we put our faith, trust, and hope? It is also a push to discern the nature and consequences of our commitments. This passage also reminds us that evil is at work in the world, it is real, it is everywhere. Evil is the real enemy, yet it is the easier one to follow. The power of evil in this world we all fall victim too. It is also important to remember that the power of evil is bigger than individual sins; evil is systemic in all levels of our world. Evil is the ultimate deceiver.

So, where do we land today? Reflect on how you are culturally Christian, how you are faithfully Christian, and examine your commitments to see where God is in those commitments. Remember that evil is real, but evil is the way you are deceived from being in the ultimate relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. And don?t be tempted by the fake things of this world, but remember to look towards the reality of a relationship and life with God. To whom do you truly belong? Amen.

Side notes:

Revelation’s vision of the beast from the land and beast from the sea is one of the most discussed parts of the book. In the popular imagination the beast from the sea is the Antichrist (although the term “antichrist” appears only in 1 & 2 John and not in Revelation). The most helpful way to think about the word pictures in this passage is by comparing them to the word pictures used in political cartoons. In American media you find an elephant and donkey representing political parties, a bull and a bear representing the stock market trends. In Revelation we find the beast from the sea and his associate representing political authority that has become as destructive as a beast. The monster is set up as the ultimate authority, a power to be worshiped above all else. Revelation portrayed the Roman political system in this way in order to ask people about their highest loyalties. In 13:4 you find people thinking the destructive system has become invincible, but that is not what Revelation sees. The beast is the opposite of the Lamb, who gives people their true identity. The beast conquers by tyranny (13:7) but the Lamb conquers by the sacrifice that frees (5:5-6). The mark of the beast (13:16-18) is the opposite of the seal of God and the Lamb (7:1-3). The imagery challenges people to ask to whom they truly belong: to the forces that destroy or the Lamb who liberates?